2008 Woodie Awards
Pendarvis ends season on good note with win
Scott Blanchard
Issue date: 12/1/04 Section: Sports
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A smile graced the face of number 13 as he trotted off the field following the McNeese State University Cowboys' third touchdown, during the final home game against the Nicholls State University Colonels. "Hey! This is fun, just like old times!" he chanted following his senior offensive linemen off the field. He had a certain glow about him that you did not see most of this season. A champion that was supposedly "bitten" by the "senior jinx" had no time to think about any of that. He was out to have a little bit of fun at the expense of the Colonels.
Scott Pendarvis had his worst season as a Cowboy this year. For the first time in his career, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and his passing yardage was down nearly 900 yards from last year's totals. He took all of the heat for the collapse of the McNeese offense, and he did it as graciously as a young man could do it. So when he got the nod to start his final game as a Cowboy, he took the football for the Pokes. He proceeded to remind the fans exactly what they had lately forgotten. He could play a little football, and he knew how to win. He threw 24 completions on 27 attempts (one shy of the school record), completing his first eight passes. He threw for 242 yards in a near-perfect performance. It was the Pendarvis many people had come to know in past seasons.
There was no chance at a playoff game whether win or lose. He had nothing to play for in that respect. But the quarterback that took the same team to the Division I-AA national title game two years ago, the same man that kept his team on top of the I-AA rankings last year and the first quarterback to have three Southland Conference championship rings on one hand, played his last game for his teammates, his friends and his family.
When the final buzzer sounded Saturday night, Nov. 20, and the Cowboys came away with a 30-9 win over the Colonels, you could not tell by Pendarvis' face that this team went 4-7 on the season. He earned the right to walk out of Cowboy Stadium a champion, securing his place among the Cowboy quarterback elite. He did not have the speed of Kerry Joseph or the arm of some of the other past Cowboy quarterbacks. What he has is a legacy of being a field general and the only quarterback with three championships. That just might be enough.
Scott Pendarvis had his worst season as a Cowboy this year. For the first time in his career, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and his passing yardage was down nearly 900 yards from last year's totals. He took all of the heat for the collapse of the McNeese offense, and he did it as graciously as a young man could do it. So when he got the nod to start his final game as a Cowboy, he took the football for the Pokes. He proceeded to remind the fans exactly what they had lately forgotten. He could play a little football, and he knew how to win. He threw 24 completions on 27 attempts (one shy of the school record), completing his first eight passes. He threw for 242 yards in a near-perfect performance. It was the Pendarvis many people had come to know in past seasons.
There was no chance at a playoff game whether win or lose. He had nothing to play for in that respect. But the quarterback that took the same team to the Division I-AA national title game two years ago, the same man that kept his team on top of the I-AA rankings last year and the first quarterback to have three Southland Conference championship rings on one hand, played his last game for his teammates, his friends and his family.
When the final buzzer sounded Saturday night, Nov. 20, and the Cowboys came away with a 30-9 win over the Colonels, you could not tell by Pendarvis' face that this team went 4-7 on the season. He earned the right to walk out of Cowboy Stadium a champion, securing his place among the Cowboy quarterback elite. He did not have the speed of Kerry Joseph or the arm of some of the other past Cowboy quarterbacks. What he has is a legacy of being a field general and the only quarterback with three championships. That just might be enough.